I iw C^*'7�


Gift of the Panama Canal Museum

PANAMA


CANAL


=


Vol. 2, No. 5 BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE, DECEMBER 7, 1951 5 cents


MODERNIZATION


AND


CONSOLIDATION


PROGRAM


AT


GORGAS


HOSPITAL


NEARING


COMPLETION


PCP C CP P CP "SS PC PCj PCPCP


fllerr


CFtritmas


To


att


Mod
health
Side of
tion at
Inclu
will be
endar y


ernization and consolida
facilities for most of the
the Isthmus are nearing
Gorgas Hospital.
ded in the changes, most c
finished early in the corn
'ear, are:


tion of
Pacific
comple-
)f which
ing cal-


1. Consolidation of dispensary services
from Ancon, Balboa, and Pedro Miguel
in Section A. This will be opened early in


Christmas-any


and lights and families
and Christmas dinners.
same things in the Can
Last year Christmas
stricted because of the
This year plans are u
the Isthmus for a


lH --. . .... -- r
"IT CAME upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old . . .
iwhere-means music if weather permits. The


together, and gifts
It means just the
al Zone.
activities were re-
outbreak of polio.
nder way all over
rousing, holiday


celebration.
This Christmas, for the first time in
many years, a community chorus will
make its appearance. This group of 80
men and women was organized under the
direction of Neil Branstetter, Music Su-
pervisor of the Canal Zone schools, late in
October and has been holding regular
practice sessions since the last week of
October.
Titn/rnn Q 4-'ho ('Pannl 7,anno .TJunnr flrn-m-


Cristobal singers


are also white-robed, with stars and tinsel
as additional decorations.
All of the Canal Zone's U. S. rate ele-
mentary schools will have some sort of
Christmas music program just before the
Christmas holidays.
In the colored schools, La Boca is plan-
ning an elaborate carol program, with
pageants of Biblical scenes, and the Silver
City schools will also have a fine program
of Christmas music.


Official Tree


The Canal
tree is not a f
dal pandanus
road station.
the Electrical
-.- .- .... 9 Lc


Zone's official Christmas
ir or spruce but the pyrami-
tree near the Balboa rail-
This will be decorated by
Division with the custom-


January. The section
mining rooms, a dispe
and laboratory service.
services will be handle
seven doctors, two to f
clerks, and an adequate n
ants and technicians.


will include ex-
nsary pharmacy
The dispensary
d, to start, by
our nurses, four
umber of attend-


2. Enlargement of parking facilities to
handle about 60 cars near the dispensary
section. The lawn in front of the Hospital
Administration Building will be cut back
and this space paved. Employee parking
will be moved to the lower level and the
present employee parking lot used for
patients' cars. Bus service will be provided.
3. Installation of an additional elevator
in the Administration Building to service
all floors and a new elevator added in the
hospital kitchen section.
4. Completion of a 13-room recovery
ward on the third floor, where all surgical


patients can
condition to
5. Renova
tion, at a co
third floor of
ready for occ
6. Provisio


remain until
be returned t
tion of the I
ist of about $
Section D, to
upancy about
n of a section


cable diseases, separate from
where tuberculosis patient
treated; this also to be r
T'^/nnnniKhnr 1 ^


I they are in
;o their wards.
'ediatrics Sec-
80,000, on the
be finished and
December 15.
for communi-


the building
s are now
eady about


mg





THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


December 7, 1951


Remember


rl Harbor?


Ten years ago today thE
bombed Pearl Harbor and set
War II.
Here, it was a hot Sunday
Most people were resting, or at
or spending a quiet afternoon
way.


SJapanese
Soff World


afternoon.
the beach,
some other


The news came through not long after
two o'clock. Within a short time, Lt.
Gen. Frank Andrews (later killed in an
airplane crash in Iceland) was at his head-
quarters at Quarry Heights.
Airplanes took to the air. Orders went
out for channelized flying. In Panama
City and Colon, authorities began a
roundup of Japanese. By 11 p. m. 130 of
the estimated 300 Japanese in Panama
City were being held, while work was
rushed on a temporary internment camp
in the Balboa Quarantine Area.
Service personnel in the Republic were
rounded up and sent back to their posts
and stations. Censorship of radios and
cables was imposed. Military police lined
the border between the Canal Zone and
Panama. People entering the Canal Zone
were checked carefully.
At 6:45 p. m. the Canal Zone was
blacked out from centrally controlled
switches. There was no current for
cooking or to operate refrigerators. Club-
house restaurants closed; movies were
cancelled.
(The nightly blackouts which lasted
until April 15, 1943, did not start until
two nights later and these were not
centrally controlled).
Executive Secretary E. C. Lombard re-
calls that he and the then Executive
Secretary, Frank H. Wang, had received
the news from military sources during the
afternoon. They were told that the black-
out switches would be pulled at 7 p. m.,
and were in their Administration Building
office conferring on the emergency when
the lights went out at 6:45 p. m.-15
minutes before they expected it.
Mr. Lombard remembers well the great
difficulty they experienced in getting out
of the office and down to the first floor in
complete darkness.
Men from the Panama Canal's Elec-
trical Division were called out, some of
them to set up floodlights in the Quaran-
tine area where the Municipal Division
fnroan warn mniumcn nn n hirh fannr� anrl


JUST LIKE a Chnr tmas card are the decorations at Gatun Locks. The big Christmas tree, a
Santa Claus and snovwmen have been features of the Locks' holiday trimmings for the past several
years. Ships transiting during the holiday season are given a Chritmas card, greetings of the lock force.


This is what a ha
member of Decembe
A. H. Donaldson o
sion, standing by foi
was also a warden
Place-Empire Street
at headquarters at
Legion building.
Mr. and Mrs. F.
with the Administra
with the Electrical


the afternoon
They had
ment nor
extra. Th
happened
down to t
the lights


handful of Zonians re-
r 7, 1941:
f the Municipal Divi-
r call from his outfit,
for the Williamson
area. He reported in
Sthe old American

H. Lee-Mrs. Lee is
tive Branch, Mr. Lee
Division-had spent


)on at home with their children.
not heard the radio announce-


had
e firs
was
he cl
were


H. D. Raymo
had taken his
for the birth of


they seen a newspaper
t they knew of what had
when Mr. Lee walked
ubhouse to find out why
off.
nd, of the Finance Bureau,
wife to Panama Hospital
their second son.


Mrs. Dorothy Hall, of the Dredging
Division in Gamboa, was on her way to
the clubhouse for supper when she learned
that there was to be a blackout. She
received the news from her son, Lindley,
who enlisted in the Navy a few weeks later.
James Campbell, of Cristobal Customs,
had heard the announcement over the
radio in his bachelor quarters. He was
one of the few who was not caught un-
awares when the blackout hegan.


MERRY CHRISTMAS
(Contirued from page 1) move to the lawn
on the Balboa side of the building.
Santa Claus Lane
The most elaborate community decora-
tion is that provided annually by the 14
families living on "Santa Claus Lane,"
Balboa's Oleander Place. The reindeer
which make their annual appearance there
are being given a fresh coat of paint and
some new decorations have been ordered
to supplement the Santa Clauses, snow
man and woman and the fireplace which
are features of the Oleander Place
decoration.
Working on the Oleander Place project
are the families of D. M. Eggleston, W. F.
Cunningham, Wesley Townsend, Earl
Unruh, Mack Bailey, Robert H. McCoy,
T. J. Wilber, Craig Neville, H. J. Zierten,
Theodore Henter, Vendrize Foster, Rich-
ard Potter, Walter Hobby, and William
Price.
And of course the Christmas celebra-
tion doesn't end with Christmas Day.


There a
Christma
sometime
origin is
A. C. Me
I .


re always the neighborhood
s tree burnings which are held
after Twelfth Night. Their
obscure-old-timers here, like
dinger, say there was nothing of
I 1. -


Peai





December 7,1951


THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


Monthly


Conference


To


The


Employees


Discusses Extension

Of Charge Accounts

A proposal that all U. S.-rate employees
of the Panama Canal Company and Canal
Zone Government be given the privilege
of Commissary charge accounts, for a
small carrying charge, was outlined Nov-
ember 29 at the latest Governor-Employ-
ee Conference at Balboa Heights.
The conferences, which were inaugur-
ated in July 1950, between representa-
tives of organized labor, civic councils,
and the administration, are held monthly
in the Board Room of the Administration
Building. Because of the informality with
which they are conducted, they have
come to be known as "shirtsleeve con-
ferences."
The question of Commissary charge ac-
counts was raised by Rufus Lovelady,
President of Lodge 14 of the American
Federation of Government Employees.
He expressed the belief of his group
that the requirement that those having
charge accounts have a salary of $5,400
or more prevents charge accounts from
being available to those who most need
the telephone advantages of such ac-
counts, especially young housewives who
find shopping difficult. Mr. Lovelady
suggested that charge accounts be avail-
able to all permanent employees on the
U. S. rolls, regardless of salary, provided
these employees have one year or more
service.
Lieutenant Governor H. D. Vogel then
presented a counter proposal, to the effect
that all U. S.-rate employees be allowed
charge accounts, provided that each pay
a fixed percent carrying charge.
During the subsequent discussion, a
majority of the employee representatives
who felt that they could speak without
consulting their organizations indicated
their approval of this idea. There was
only one dissenting vote; a number of
others present did not indicate their opin-
ions, preferring to wait for consultation
with the groups they represent.
The question of housing also came up
for considerable discussion. J. J. Tobin
of the Central Labor Union asked why no
bachelor quarters were provided in the


It is a good thing, in every community, to
have its members feel that they have a part
in the activities of that community. This is
especially true here in the Canal Zone,
where we do not have the right to vote on


local issues or ev
national matters,
we happen to have
stained a residence
State which permi
sentee balloting.
When the Civic


tion changes or improvements which
benefit the Canal Zone community
whole.


There is also
Civic Councils h


en on
unless
main-
in a
ts ab-


un-


cils became a part of
Canal Zone life in 1937
during the administration
of Governor Clarence Rid-
ley, Governor Ridley ex-
pressed the hope that the
Councils could provide a
medium for the develop-
ment of a real community
spirit in the best Ameri-
can tradition.
Many of our activities, especially those
concerned with conditions of employment or
rates of pay, are determined by Government
procedures and are not properly within the
province of the activities of the Civic
Councils.
There are, however, many other matters in
which the Civic Councils have been and can
continue to be of great value, not only to the
communities they represent but to the ad-
ministration itself.
The new housing program is an example
of this. The desires and needs of the Canal
Zone communities in regard to housing were
ascertained by the Civic Councils and many
of their recommendations have been incor-
porated, as far as financial limitations
permit, in the types of the new houses which
have been and will be built in the Canal Zone.
In matters concerning the commissaries,


clubhouses
are in a p
ment and


, and schools,
position to deter
to recommend


the Civic Councils
mine public senti-
to the administra-


new housing program. He was told that
the program does include bachelor quar-
ters. The figure given later to THE PAN-
AMA CANAL REVIEW was 620 new bache-
lor rooms and apartments in the overall
program.
In answer to a question from Chester
Luhr of the Pacific side Lock Employees,
Governor Newcomer said that the town
of Cocoli will definitely be taken over by


the


and assimilating the
to take the places of
There is no doubt
Civic Councils have a


from the ad
to us all.
I have no
in my belief,
nite part to
ministration
efforts.


would
as a


another field in which the
ave an opportunity for real
community service. I am
referring to a revival of the
community spirit which
was so outstanding during
the construction period
on the Canal Zone.
There are Community
Chest campaigns to be
sponsored and assisted to
successful completion.
There are national holi-
days to be observed with
fitting ceremonies. There
are town beautification
programs which might be
conducted. There is also


duty of welcoming
newcomers who come
retiring employees.
in my mind that the
definite vart in Canal


capacity to
to sponsor
The regu-
hich repre-
and other
some of us


have been helpful


in repeating
ouncils have a
They have th,
support in


7T7i


Governor


the Navy and that the administration, as
of November 30, was waiting official word
on this matter. The Navy will provide
its own police and fire protection. The
main highway will not be blocked by a
military gate.
The question of Cocoli was one of those
discussed recently in Washington during
the conference on housing attended by
Colonel Vogel and (see page 15


Zone life, first in an advisory
the administration and, second,
community and welfare projects.
lar conference each month at w'
sentatives of the Civic Councils
employee groups have met with


ministration


Hesitation
the Civic (
play here.
's fullest


oC


-/




THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


December 7, 1951


Canal


Zone's


Junior


ROTC


Cadets of the Canal Zone's two Junior
Reserve Officers Training Corps units will
move "into the field" as soon as the dry
season gets under way.
"The field" for training purposes is the


little ravine behind the Administration
Building on the Pacific Side and the beach
near Cristobal hIigh School for the Atlan-
tic Side contingent.
The field work will be a further intensi-
fication of the combat training which has
been stepped up this year for cadets in
both battalions of the ROTC, according
to Maj. Wayne Bart who, as Professor of
Military Science and Tactics in the Canal
Zone High Schools, is in charge of ROTC
activities.
Last year, Major Bart said, the ROTC


cadets put special emphasis on close order
drill. This year the close order drill time
has been cut by a third and ROTC instruc-
tors are teaching combat formations of
squad and platoon size, in place of the drill.
The cadets are also learning basic gun
drill with mortars, machine guns, ba-
zookas, and recoilless rifles.


275


Cadets


Another new development in the ROTC
training this year is the use of the older
cadets as instructors. At Balboa High
School, where the ROTC was started in
1948, there are a number of boys who are
taking the fourth-year course. (There
will be no more fourth-year students;
ROTC which originally began in th'
freshman year now does not start until
the second year of high school.)
Cadet Instructors
These M-4 (fourth-year) students give
much of the instruction to the other
classes, under the supervision of the regu-
lar military instructors. The student
commissioned and non-commissioned offi-
cers run the companies and battalions
under supervision, and the cadet officers
actually handle the administration of
whatever discipline is necessary. Each
cadet in the corps has the opportunity
from time to time to command a group.
One of the most successful of last year's
experiments will be repeated again this
year. This was the training camp at Fort
Kobbe, where 200 cadets from both the


A - A
* t


T ri
- ' y -
>2, It
^N4l Qh~-t
I^ ~ -


i - p.
/
is
ml.


Ti ' .

. .. - F
~-ii-.4-


raining


1. 1
4


Maj. WAYNE L. BART
Balboa and Cristobal units spent four
days in intensive field training. They
were quartered in Army barracks, ate in
Army messes, were subject to Army regu-
lations and entitled to Army privileges.
Present plans for this year's camp, to
be held during the spring vacation week
which, this year, will be from April 5-13,
call for a longer period than the four days
spent at Kobbe last spring. If it can be
arranged, Major Bart said, he would like
the cadets to start the training period on
Saturday, have chapel services in the field
the following day, and then hold field
maneuvers for the next four days.
275 Cadets Enrolled
A total of 275 cadets are enrolled in the
two units of the Canal Zone ROTC. Of


these 165 are
and 110 in the
both United
citizens.


The
fall of
in its


. L . L I


USE OF the Visual Cast (a machine which enlarges and illuminates charts for training purposes)
is explained to Cadet Lt. Col. Sam Maphis, Battalion Commander of the Balboa ROTC unit, by Lt.
Ray M. Golden, Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the Balboa High School.


H; U ~ U


in the battalion at Balboa
Cristobal unit. Cadets are
States and Panamanian


Balboa ROTC was started in the
1948 and the Cristobal unit is now
second year. Graduates of both


units may receive credit for one year of
college ROTC and, if otherwise qualified,
may enlist in the Reserves in the grade of
Private First Class.
Classroom subjects such as First Aid,
Military Courtesy, Map Reading, Mili-
tary Organization, and Personal Hygiene
and lessons in learning how the Army's
principal weapons function are combined
with the field exercises. The cadets can
take down and reassemble rifles, carbines,
machine guns, and mortars and are taught
how to put them back into operation if
they cease to operate in the field.
All cadets are required to learn to fire
fL., � A u,.r'- 00 ,trt *1; k.., J*V�� n. 4,1,^ ,4I tAi At b


ow


I


'*.'\ 1 �^ *^^
i/





December 7,1951


THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


FOR YOUR INTER


AND


GUIDANCE


IDENT


PREVENTION


Here's an excerpt from an old Japanesa
digest of traffic laws and ordinances that
ought to be titled - "Hennessy, Tennes-
see, Tootle the Flute--"
"At the rise of the hand of policeman,
stop rapidly. Do not pass him by or
otherwise disrespect him.
"When a passenger of the foot hove in
sight, tootle the horn trumpet to him
melodiously at first. If he still obstacles
your passage, tootle him with more vigor
and express by word of mouth the warn-
ing, 'Hi, Hi!'
"Beware of the wandering horsa that he
shall not take fright as you pass him. Do
not explode the exhaust box at him. Go
soothingly by, or stop at the roadside till
he pass away. Give big space to the
festive dog that make sport in the road-
way. Avoid tanglement of the dog wihh
your wheel spokes. Go soothingly on th?
grease-mud, as there lurk the skid-demon.
Press the brake of the foot as you roll
around the corner to save the collapse and
the tie-up."
A close scrutiny of this Nipponese rule
book makes it quite clear that biggest
emphasis is on "tootling" the flute.


HONOR


ROLL


Bureau Award For
BEST RECORD
October
COMMUNITY SERVICES


AWARDS THIS CALENDAR YEA
Civil Affairs--------------------
Industrial ---------------------.-
Engineering and Construction .
Community Services ...
Health ......................
Supply and Service .......
Marine-- . ---.-------- - -----
Railroad and Terminals

Division Awards For
NO DISABLING INJURIES


kR
4
3
2


2


The Panama Canal Company-Canal
Zone Government continues its slight but
steady improvement in reducing the dis-
abling injury frequency among its
employees. A frequency rate of 12 for
the month of October and one of 15 for
the year to date speaks well for the or-
ganization as a whole.

The following units will receive Division
Honor Roll Awards for no disabling
injuries for the month of October:
Grounds Maintenance, Railroad, Locks,
Clubhouses, and Building. The Grounds
Maintenance Division is now tied with
the Motor Transportation Division in
number of awards this calendar year.

The Community Services Bureau will
receive the Honor Roll Award for Best
Record for the month of October.


By
M. F. MILLARD
We are approaching that time of the
year when everyone starts to think about
purchasing the Christmas tree and to
make plans for interior and exterior deco-
rations for the holiday season.
I suppose that in this age any warning
of the dangers connected with the use of
wax candles for Christmas tree and other
holiday decorations is unnecessary. The
use of electricity for holiday lighting,
with the many pleasing effects obtainable
through the use of colored lights, has
made it the accepted medium for this
purpose. Perhaps we have lost sight of
the fact that it has also made our holiday
season a much safer time of the year.
There are, however, a few common-
sense precautions which should be ob-


1 served in the care and use of the strings
0 of lights used for decoration. This is an
0 excellent time to take them out of their
0 storage places and look them over for
defects. Check the wiring for cracks or
worn spots in the insulation. Check the
sockets and plugs to see if they have been


AL


M. F. MILLARD, Safety Engineer, Electrical
Division, Engineering Division and Mereorologi-
cal and Hydrographic Branch.


cracked or broken. If you find c
*11 _L" 11 1 1" i 1


defects


you win still nave time to nave repairs
made or to obtain new sets. When deco-
rating the tree, keep the bulbs from
coming in direct contact with the foliage
of the tree or flammable decorations. If
it is necessary to use extension cords,
don't run them under rugs or in areas
where they may be exposed to damage.
When you leave the house, and when re-
tiring for the night, disconnect the lights.
If you are planning outdoor lighting, be


sure that the equipment you use is de-
signed for outdoor use. The strings of
lights sold for indoor use are not weather-
proof, and may become shock- or fire-
hazards if they get wet.

According to statistics released by the
National Safety Council the one-millionth
traffic fatality is expected in December-
it could be you or one of your family-
let's not let this happen-drive carefully
and courteously.


October


Hinklins ln;..ric nor 1 I0IIA Alnl MUn.Ia..r. WarIrlJ




THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


December


7,1951


Bid


Opening


Initiates


Local


Rate


OUR


OUT-OF-DOORS


Housing


Program


For


Fiscal


Year


(EDITOR'S NOTE: the material for this
column has been prepared by Walter R.
Lindsay, Chief of the Grounds Maintenance
Division who is also in charge of the Canal
Zone Experimental Gardens.)


NEARING COMPLETION at Silver City are 91 new houses of the masonry on-the-ground
type. Bids were opened November 27 for 96 more apartments of the same type, also to be built at
Silver City. During the coming year and under the second part of the project, Trinidad Street will
be extended to connect with Randolph Road.


A total of five bids were received and
opened November 27 for housing in the
Silver City townsite extension, the first of
three large local rate housing projects on
which bids will be submitted this fiscal
year.
The 96 apartments in 48 houses-all of
the new Silver City housing is duplex-type
will be identical with those in 91 houses
which are now under construction at Sil-
ver City by the Panama firm of Framorco
and which are due for completion during
the early part of the coming calendar year.
Fifty of the new Silver City apartments
will have two bedrooms apiece; 38 will
have three bedrooms, and 8 will have
four bedrooms apiece. There are no single
bedroom apartments in the present group
although some of these are in the contract
which was awarded to Framorco during
the last fiscal year.
Largest of the local rate housing pro-
jects will be that at the new town of
Cardenas where eventually there will be
approximately 1,000 apartments. This
new town will be located behind Corozal.
It will contain a commissary, clubhouse,
schools, police and fire stations and other
community construction.
Row-Type Houses
Plans for Cardenas are still in a fluid
state, according to Col. George K.
Wither. Director of the Enmineerin and


in the northern area where the grading is
being done by the Municipal Division;
the remainder will be located in a southern
extension of the town near the ball dia-
mond. No grading of any large amount
will be needed in this latter area.
Paraiso-230 Apartments
The 230 apartments in the 115 duplexes
at Paraiso will be divided as follows: ten
one-bedroom apartments; 122 two-bed-
room apartments; 80 with three bedrooms
apiece and 18 having four bedrooms.
As has already been announced Pa-
raiso's Conga Street will be developed into
a 24-foot wide horseshoe-shaped street;
two new dead-end streets will be con-
structed in the north area and Paraiso
Road will be repaved in concrete and
widened to 28 feet. A playground will be
located in the northern area of the town.
Ten-foot wide utility streets, which are
narrow roadways but will not be used for
traffic except for fire equipment, moving
vans and garbage collections, will connect
the houses to the main roads. They will
serve as wide walkways and each house
will be connected to these walkways with
a narrower, more usual type of walk.
Bids for the Paraiso project will be ad-
vertised December 14 for opening Jan-
uary 28.
The construction at Silver City in-
cluded in the bids opened late last month


DRY SEASON FLOWER GARDEN
The approach of the dry season brings
many inquiries about gardening. So let's
get busy and prepare our soil and then
we'll talk about what not to plant! We
needn't talk about what to plant since all
enthusiastic gardeners have already made
an extensive list of seeds to purchase.
Pick yourself a small spot for flowers and
then reach for a spading fork. Notice I
said "small"-you see, I'm thinking of
the spading and weeding to be done.
Spade the ground to a depth of at least
six inches, pulverizing the soil as much as
possible and tossing out any rocks, grass
or weed roots. If available, a good layer
of compost is next in order. If compost is
not available tankage or dried blood will
serve just as well. Spread this liberally
over the spaded area and fork it under.
It is not too early to plant for the dry
season.
Now about what not to plant. In gen-
eral, forget about plants that require cold
weather or long day lengths in order to
flower, such as Sweet Peas, Larkspur,
Foxglove, Carnations, Asters, Pansies,
Nasturtiums, Stock, Snapdragon, Canter-
bury Bells, Cornflowers, Cosmos, Poppies,
Verbenas, Chrysanthemums and Holly-
hock. Some of these plants will grow
"under protest" but generally speaking it
is a discouraging process. Most of us
want some reward for our labor in as
short a time as possible, so stay with the
old stand-bys that rarely fail if given half
a chance.


Always


the first to come to mind are


the Zinnias, Marigolds, and Periwinkles.
There's no end to the great number
of varieties of sizes and colors to be had
in Zinnias, but one is prone to think
of Marigolds in terms of that small,
ill-smelling orange flower. But don't be
fooled-there is a luscious huge canary-
yellow variety available that would do a
Chrysanthemum grower proud. Some of
the other flowers that can be depended
upon fairly well in the dry season are
Gaillardias, Cornflowers, Bachelor But-





December 7, 1951


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


Jet~sL


Official
Panama Canal Company Publication
Published Monthly at
BALBOA HEIGHTS, CANAL ZONE
Printed by the Panama Canal Press
Mount Hope, Canal Zone
F. K. NEWCOMER
Governor


HERBERT D.


VOGEL


Lieutenant Governor
E. C. LOMBARD
Executive Secretary
J. RUFUS HARDY
Editor


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters containing inquiries, sugges-
tions, criticisms or opinions of a general
nature will be accepted. In all cases
possible, letters to THE REVIEW will be
answered individually. Those of suffi-
cient general interest will be published
in this paper. Letters must be authen-
tic and be signed although signatures
will not be published unless requested
and names of authors will be kept con-
fidential. Return address should be
given but THE REVIEW will not under-
take to return correspondence of any
nature.


SUBSCRIPTIONS


Yearly
PANAMA


subscriptions


CANAL


REVIEW


PROBABLY the biggest tanker ever to transit the Panama Canal was the Norwegian-registered
Dalfonn which was northbound November 9. Owned by Sigval Bergesen and with Stavanger as her
home port, she was running on this trip under charter to the Norwegian Government.
The 16,349-gross ton tanker is 624 feet overall and has a beam of 78 feet. She was carrying
155,000 barrels of fuel oil from San Pedro to Bergen. The tanker carries a crew of 58 and her master
is Captain Erling Forberg. She had made the trip from Norway to the Canal Zone via Iran, Japan, and
California. Three Panama Canal admeasurers worked about four hours each to measure the big ship
for her first Canal transit.
Of special interest to waterfronters was the report that the well-fitted Dalfonn had a piano aboard,
an unusual piece of furniture for a tanker.


address in the Postal Union:
$1.00


Postal


money


orders


should


made payable to the Treasurer, Pan-


Canal


Company,


to the Editor, THE


REVIEw


and mailed


PANAMA


, Balboa Heights, C.


CANAL
z.


SINGLE COPIES


PANAMA


CANAL


REVIEW


sale at all Panama Canal Company


Clubh


ouses,


Commissaries,


Hotels for ten days after publication
date for:


Cents a Copy


Single
general


copre
sales


es


the close


and individual copies


by mail:


New Cruise Ships To Bring


1952 Dry Season


Tourists


Several new cruise ships will be seen here
this coming dry season for the first time.
The new visitors will be the 15,015-ton
Ryndam of the Holland-America Line,
Furness Line's brand new Ocean Monarch
which was built in England exclusively for
cruise runs and which entered the service
last May, and the Norwegian-American
Line's motorship Oslofjord.
Shore excursions, which will include a
trip across the Isthmus by Panama Railroad
and a trip through the Gallard Cut, are to
be handled by the Persons Travel Bureau
and by Panama Tours.
The tour schedule, at the present time,
shapes up for the coming dry season as
follows: January 11, Ryndam; January 20,
Stella Polaris, on the first of two trips;
January 26, Ryndam; January 28, Oslofjord;
February 9, Mauretania on the first of two
cruises; February 12, the 26,300-ton Empress
of Scotland. flarshio of the Canadian Pacific


the current recess of Congress.
Arriving November 26 on the SS Ancon
were the following Representatives: Daniel
A. Reed of New York; Charles J. Kersten of
Wisconsin; Ivor DI). Fenton and Benjamin F.
James of Pennsylvania, all Republicans.
Senator Henry C. Dworshak, Republican
from Idaho, is due in Cristobal late this
month for a four-day visit on the Isthmus.
OtherCongressmenwhoaredue here, most
of whom will be accompanied by theirwives,
are: Representative Frank T. Bow, Republi-
can of Ohio; Representative Fred G.
Aandahl, Republican of North Dakota;
Representative Walter M. Mumma, Re-
publican of Pennsylvania; Representative
Harold A. Patten, Democrat of Arizona;
Representative Carroll D. Kearns, Republi-
can of Pennsylvania; Representative James
I. Dolliver, Republican of Iowa; Representa-
tive M. G. Burnside, I)emocrat of West
Virginia; Representative E. P. Scrivner,
Republican of Kansas; Representative Fos-
ter Furcolo, Democrat from Massachusetts,
Representative James F. Lind, Democrat
of Pennsylvania; Representative Russell V.
Mack, Republican from Washington; Repre-


OF CURRENT INTEREST


ama


PANMA ANAL _




THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 7, 1951


"Staircase


Over


Mountains"


Raises,


Lowers


Ships


During


Canal


ransits


Overweight should not be an occupa-
tional ailment of the men who work on
the Panama Canal locks. They walk too
much. Even the control house operators
whose movements are circumscribed by
the size of their working space make
enough trips up and down the length of
their control boards, plus occasional ob-
servation sorties onto the balconies and
hikes up and down several steep flights of


stairs,


to keep


waistlines within


bounds.
The operations of the locks, which A. A.
Albright, a Junior Operator in the Gatun
Control House, calls a "staircase over the
mountains," fall naturally into three
parts. There are the operations above
ground level-the control houses. There


are the operations on


the ground-the


lock walls. And there are the operations
under the ground- in the network of
tunnels thousands of feet long which few
people ever see.
Take Gatun Locks, where three steps
raise or lower ships to or from the 85-foot
level of Gatun Lake. Its men above
ground level are the nine control house
operators. On duty the other day were
the Senior Control House Operator, W. C.
Smith, who has 28 years of service with
the Panama Canal, all of it on the locks.
He has been the senior operator since last


October 14.


ABOVE GROUND: Jacob F. Krause, a junior
Control House Operator; first employed with the
Canal organization in 1918, he has worked in the
control house since 1945.


And there were two of the


Junior Operators, Mr. Albright and
Arthur F. Crusey.
Mr. Albright started with the locks in
1934 as a towing locomotive operator--
as most new locks people do-and later
worked in the tunnels. He went to the
control house six years ago. Mr. Crusey,
whose Canal service dates back to 1936,
also was a towing locomotive operator and
a tunnel operator before he moved up to
the airy heights of the control house in
March 1950.
Above The Ground
Control house people are sort of fabu-
lous characters, like Paul Bunyan. It
can't be said that they don't know their
own strength, for they do; but with a
twist of a wrist they start or check the
flow of the 26,000,000 gallons of water
which fill a lock chamber. Another flip


ON THE GROUND: Floyd R. McDermitt, a
Lockmaster; he has been with the Locks Division
since 1929 and a lockmaster since March, 1950.
ft


the chain lowered at once, an accident
might occur. The chains, which are
worked by a hydraulically operated sys-
tem of cylinders, are there to protect the
gates from being rammed by ships which
might get out of control. The chain, if
struck by a ship, pays out by an auto-


matic release and a 10,000-ton ship,
travelling at four knots, can be stopped
in a little over 72 feet.
Three Big Bathtubs
When the Pioneer Tide was well inside
the lower chamber, Mr. Newhard tele-
phoned from the wall to the control house
that she had cleared the chain and lock
gates. Mr. Albright started the ma-
chinery which raised the chain and closed
the gates; when the gates were mitered
(that means closed so that their meeting
faces were tightly sealed against water
pressure) he began to flow water into the
chamber to raise the ship to the level of
the next lock. Visitors are sometimes
told that the locks are like big bathtubs,
connected and set on different levels. Pull
the plug out of the top one and the water
flows into the next.
Water for use in all of the Canal's locks,
at the rate of some 40 billions of gallons a
year, comes from Gatun Lake. It is fed
into the main culverts which average 18
feet in diameter and which run through
the lock walls. The flow of water in
these culverts is controlled by rising stem
gate valves. From these main culverts,
the water is fed into smaller lateral cul-
verts which run at right angles from the
walls at intervals under the lock floors.
Cylindrical valves which control the
center wall lateral culverts can be opened
or closed in ten seconds; it takes one
minute to open or close the rising stem
valves on the main culverts. From the
lateral culverts the water boils into each
lock chamber from a series of holes in the
floor at such a rate that a chamber can be
filled in eight minutes.
See While Doing
The control table is a miniature replica
and diagram of the locks, by which the
operators can see exactly what is going on
below, as it happens. Slender towers of
_1 -., . ~.. .i -- * ,T: j_ t._ Thi t JT- All '_1 - tt


rifa^,
^-�^ .. L- ^





December 7,1951


THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


one of the fender chains. When the chain
began to slide down into the water the
bird tried to scramble upward but could
not move fast enough to stay above the
water level. When it was last seen it was
swimming away into the lock chamber
just as if that was what it had intended to
do all the time.
On The Ground
The men on the ground level, in this
lockage, were the lockmaster, Mr. New-


hard, the toy
the life-jacki
lines aboard
contact a lo
through these
When a v
small rowbo
the boat are
lock walls.
others tossed
aboard, the
cables from
Accidents


ing locomotive operators and
eted seamen who had put the
the Pioneer Tide. The first
)ck crew has with a ship is
e boatmen.
vessel is close to the locks, a
at puts out to meet her. In
manila running lines from the
These lines are fastened to
1 from the ship's deck. Pulled
lines drag behind them the
the towing locomotives.
sometimes happen to the


boatmen, but not as
possible. And they 1
tional hazards. Not
Gatun boatmen waw
into the water when
back by a tarpon
quite clear boat and
The Pioneer Tide


often as migh
ave peculiar o
long ago one
knocked spr


t seem
ccupa-
of the
awling


he was struck in the
whose leap did not
boatmen.
was a six-locomotive


motive to ship through the
turret on the top of each locomot
operative power comes from
rail," which is in a slot beside
and which is reached by a pair o
attached to the locomotives.
As the Pioneer Tide made
cables and began to move into
chamber, Mr. Newhard walked
her. In his hand he carried the
telephone which is his badge of
which he plugs into jacks on


Canal oldtimers recall that Believe
it or Not Ripley found an item at
Gatun Locks. The story goes that in
the early 193T0's a Canal pilot named
Tracy walloped a ball from the No. 1
tee of the golf course which lay
alongside the locks before the out-
break of the last war. The ball
landed aboard a ship bound for New
Zealand. On the ship's return trip
her master tossed the ball, which
was marked with the owner's name,
back onto the golf course. Ripley
claimed that the drive was the
longest in golfing history to New
Zealand and back.


ride back in a locomotive
for its next job.


o
0
f,


ich


revolving
ive. The
a "third
the track
f "shoes"

fast the
the lock
alongside
portable
office and
the light
allows the
gth of the
or him to
is headed


The Lockage Boss
Like the other lockmasters in the Canal
service, Mr. Newhard is in charge of


everyone immedia
lockage. A native
an electrician by t
he has worked on
locomotive opera


and, since 1944,
tween lockages hi
men on the neve
maintenance and
may be called onr
position.
He had just d
tance alongside
his colleague, Fl
peared, hitching
the end of the lo
through. He is a
is a machinist b
the same as those'
stituting mechan
and like Mr. N


tely concerned with the
Sof Pennsylvania, he is
rade and in the 23 years
the locks, he has been a
tor, a tunnel operator
a lockmaster. In be-
supervises other crafts-
r ending round of locks
during a lock overhaul


to act in a supervisory

disappeared into the dis-
the Pioneer Tide when
oyd R. McDermitt, ap-
a ride on a locomotive to
cks to start another ship
Ilso a lockmaster, but he
y trade. His duties are
e of Mr. Newhard (sub-
ical for electrical work)
[ewhard he directs the


personnel engaged in locking the ships
whose transit he is overseeing.
His incoming ship was the S.S. Belleville,
whose pilot did not want to approach


while the lower chamber was spilling to
sea. He signalled with four blasts of the
ship's whistle to Mr. McDermitt, who
telephoned the control house, asking that
the flow be shut off. That began the


S. S. Belleville's transit, the
day for Mr. McDermitt.
particular day was over (w
bound transits) he was due
trips afoot along the 1-1/5
wall. He has worked for th
sion since 1929, first as a
motive operator, then as a
tor, and has been a lockmast


third of the
Before that
ith 14 south-
to make six
mile-long lock
e Locks Divi-
towing loco-
tunnel opera-
er since 1950.


poles along the lock wall. He f
lockage on foot for the entire len
locks but it is perfectly proper I


lockage, which meant that she had three
of the powerful towing machines on each
side. Breaking in as a locomotive operator
takes two to three weeks and an operator's
first solo assignments are usually in the


middle
six-car
second
and th
The
born J.
the loc


locomotives. The front pair of a
lockage are the actual towers; the
pair equalize by pulling or braking


e third pair ac
locomotive o
H. Bornefeld
ks since 1925
i


t


as brakes.


operators, like Texas-
, who has worked on
, must know what a
. I-VI l"VU fl-i lint^ H/


If * XiU I' � &f *.. iM.AU*.,HII * I T A'*^ t. <* t&<4A4-s.' .W'/^ X/^ - 7 -- - ,.'*"


Under The Ground
The underground at Gatun Locks is a
world of its own. When G. G. Thomas, a
tunnel operator, comes to work in the
morning his first job is to walk the length
of his tunnel on the first lockage, checking
to see that all the machines are operating
properly. Just before he checks out for
the day he repeats this long hike. In be-
tween he sees to whatever maintenance
work is necessary.
Since the tunnels run almost the com-
plete length of the lock walls, his pedes-
trian activities are considerable. Mr.
Thomas is a machinist. He has been with
the Locks Division since 1936 and a
tunnel operator since 1945.
He has an electrical colleague on the
same shift whose duties are substantially
the same except that in the case of the
electrician the work involves the intricate
electrical equipment in the tunnels. At
some points at Gatun, the machines and
electrical equipment are half a mile away
from the central control house.
Each tunnel is divided horizontally into
three stories, the lower for drainage, the
middle for wiring and the top as a passage-
way with bays, into which the machinery
to operate the locks is set.
There are, for instance, the (see page 15)


e
r





THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 7,1951


CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN THE AIR


The occasional


bans on the y
that, despite t
of the year a
practicing of
ming or whist
Because
Port of New
that all of the
now a matter
tional mercha


o
0
Il


sound of timeless


ungsters enter
he continued h


hymns


certain dry
and the ver


from Clubhouse record


closets an
dant appe


d storage
arance of


players,


rooms at
the coun


children being specially good


Some, all
tryside, th


gain approaches the Canal Zone, even as it does in the sno
Christmas carols by the neighbors' school-age children seems
ling the old, familiar tunes at unguarded moments.
of the recently terminated longshoremen's strike, which create
York, it appeared for a while that we might have to make a g
S"fixings" for a Merry Christmas would be in the stores in t
of history, however, we can return to established procedures
ndise will be available.


w-clad
to hav


ed havoc
reat mai
ime for
Sand sti


dd up each
most impor


New Engl
e even the


to the
Christi


and States.
childless Zo


nd helpful,
realization
an holiday
Continued
iians hum-


with ocean shipping through the
ny special arrangements to ensure
the jolly season. With the strike
II be certain that all of the tradi-


As practically all


Zonians


PLENTY
knew at the t


OF TOYS AND GIFT ITEMS


was no possibility of the


affecting


the local


toy situa


since these important ite
Sections for those who mn
now feel that, with a fe\
years in their toy buying
sale and a few new, late
toys that were placed on
welcome just to look an
plans, and visitors won't
Gift items abound ti
It would require too muc
to be the exact item that
to look at are sterling silv
exhibited, new convenier


ms had already
ay have delibera
w dollars of spa
. Some of the n
-arrivals, have I
sale in Novemb
found to avoid
be disturbed in
throughout all of
h space and effo


is wanted


er


a
te
re
ro
be
er
ni
th
. 1


arrived and been placed o
ly under-budgeted at the
retroactive pay in the
re important items that
en sent out. There may
Indicate a sound reason
ssing new items. Both
eir "browsing."


1


te large
rt to try
ich partly


and plated table


ice for the ho.


ware,


tores and are co
enumerate all o
ar age or taste.


the lovely


new pattern


in sale. Ther
time of the 2
hand, they c
sold out early
Snow be non
for re-visitin
tov sections


e are still plenty at both of the Toy
Foy Sale opening in October and who
an approach the liberality of former
Shave been re-ordered and placed on
e left, but the imported mechanical
g the special sections, where you are
are self-service, with cash payment


ntly being added to
enticing things we
ie of the especially I
of hand-cut English


Shipments arrive.
'ut there is certain
ngs you may wish


crystal that


use through the modern household appliances, beautiful and


was recently


exclusive


designs


in lamps and


pottery.


AND


AS FOR EATING


Christmas


seems


to call


or eggnog


and, as usual,


we will offer the mixed product (minus


only the


those who value convenience. Other
Soda, or cream, milk, eggs, cinnamon,
sliced, canned ham, a few dishes of pic
who drop in while making their round
will keep cooking to a minimum. For
stuffing, or roast goose, backed up w
Fruit cake (your own favorite recipe,


mixers you will want may include the
etc., for your own recipe for a Yuletide
kles, olives, sliced fruit cake and other "
s of calls on Christmas Day-a buffet se
Christmas Eve, we suggest the tradition
ith fresh cranberry sauce or attractive
the delicious ones that we have baked


popular sparkling Commissary Club
drink. Set up the buffet with a cold,
snacks" and be all set for your friends
t-up also serves as a "wife-saver" and
1 turkey menu, possibly with chestnut
molds of the canned cranberry jelly.
at Mount Hope, or the States cakes,


plain or brandy flavored), plum pudding, pumpkin and mince


pies savory


from the


oven


, yum-m-m.


CHRISTMAS TREES


We are planning to make delivery (within our regular delivery districts) of natural Christmas
on December 18th and 19th. For the few who especially want their trees ahead of that time, ho
small lot due to arrive Monday, December 10th, and can arrange for delivery the following day. If
discuss the matter with your store's manager or supervisor. We hope also to have the customary
table size chemi-colored trees, and there will be a limited number of holly wreaths.


trees, family size,
wever, we have a
interested, please
and very popular


STORES WILL OPEN DECEMBER 24


Although all stores
avoid a three-day period


are customarily
when stores are


closed on M
closed, all st


ondays,
ores will


for the benefit of last-minute shoppers, as well as to
operate on December 24th.


NEWS OF YOUR COMMISSARY STORES


J -


e;















issues.


and rates of charge, for medical
care and other services furnishe'
Bureau facilities.
2. DEFINITIONS-a. For the
this Dublication the following


Save


establishes
: of persons
and dental


"out-patient"
ital care nor


term


in-patient


States


(3) The term "dependent" shall include:
(a) Lawful wife: When the lawful wife only is em-
ployed by a Government agency, the husband and
other members of the family are ineligible for medical


care unless
icapacitated
nd wife are


the husband is
for employment


physically or
, When both


employed by a Government


agency, the husband will be considered the head of the
family for the purpose of this tariff.


Unmarried


legitimate


children,


and adopted children under 21 yea


and parents-in-law,
the principal for


reside


bona fide resider


mental


(d) Unmarried


legitimate
ildren, who


are dependent on


or her support.


Unmarried


step-children,


CLASS


OF PATIENTS


U1 S. Rate employees of the
Panama Canal Company and
Canal Zone Government.

Local Rate employees of the
Panama Canal Company and
Canal Zone Government.

Dependents of U. S. Rate em-
ployees of the Panama Canal
Company and Canal Zone
Government and U. S. Rate
employees of other United


Government


in Group 5.


Dependents


em-


rs of age.
provided they are
ver half of their


in the principal's household,
nts in the Canal Zone.
ly defective or physically in-


children, ste
are incapable
the principal


legitimate


children,


and adopted children, regardless of
and dependent on the principal for


his or her
institution.
3. ELc
dents of
Zone or t


support


t while attending

PERSONS-a. B


ep-children and
of self-support,
for more than


step-children.


age and residence,
more than half of


an educational


0ona


visitors to


patients in Group 3.


charge


NOTE:


rest-


No charge


Office


Free


stations


Free











$1.50


or oth


Government who is undergoing


Visits


1.00











2.00


$4.00


10.00


er services, nor for prescrip-
nal Company or Canal Zone
tal treatment for an injury


Lesseps


areas.


b. Non-residents


(1) Officers and employees
retired employees for one yea


date of their retirement or until


later date)


or the Canal Zone


of the Pan


U. S. citizen
the effective


July 1. 1952, which-
ama Canal Company


Government, and their dependents.,


the dependents


reside with the


(2) Civilian employees of the Armed Forces oi
United States and their dependents, provided


ers
St


:tually


and employees
rates of America


he dependents


act


(4) Commissioned


Forces and the


(5) Victims
occurring in the


of the Government


and
ually


and enlisted
ir dependents,.


of accidents
Canal Zone.,


to save life


or preve


(6) Officers, members of the crews
ngers arriving at Canal Zone ports


their dependents.,
reside with the


of the


emergencies
there exists a
suffering.


of ships, and pas-
or transiting the


Canal.
(7) Individuals for whom medical care is
by the Foreign Office, Republic of Panama.


(8) Beneficiaries


of U. S. Gove


tvhon rwtrinrnP'.l rateg , eaahlished


requested

agencies
Burean (.f


d. Private pay patients, Government
tractors and their employees, individual


con-


whom treatment is requested by the Foreign
Office of the Republic of Panama, officers
and crew members of ships, employees of
companies serving ships, banking and conm-
munication companies, bona fide visitors,


wise provided herein are
e. Officers, enlisted pel


a rate is not other-
placed in Group 6.


employees of the Armed Forces


charge is pal
Agency), off
Government


ricers and employees


Agencies


rangements are made
cerned, and beneficiary


Service


when


necessary ar-


by the agency con-
ies of the Veterans


United States Public
be charged reciprocal


Budget. Civilian employees of the
d States Navy will be charged the
rate as prescribed for commissioned


personnel of the Navy.


f. Pre-Natal


Patients
Patients


Clinics:


A flat charge


-natal clinics as
U. S. Rate status,
Local Rate status.


All others, per visit. $4.00.


(NOTE:.
the flat


Laboratory
rate charge).


charges,


g. Pharmacy charges: Items sold at phar-
macies will be as shown on pharmacy price
lists, which are subject to change without
notice.
h. The sale of alcohol, alcoholic beverages,
narcotics, poisons, and habit-forming drugs
is prohibited, except on the written prescrip-
tion of a Health Bureau physician or a medi-
cal officer of the Armed Forces.


i. Flat
Out-Pat
charges
surgical
cisions,


Rate


Charges at District Medical and


ient Hospital Clinics: Flat
include consultation fees, and m
procedures, such as surgical


removal of foreign 1
intra-muscular med
service for which a
- *


rate


tissue suturing, dressings,


subcutaneous and


and dental
mentally in
husband a


(c) Parents
dependent on
support, actua


and are


capacitated
adopted ch


half of his


ever is the


(including
Lr following


provided
principal.


actually


dependents ac


(3) Officu
the United
provided t
principal.


reside with the principal.


Armed


having a
having a


necessity


personnel


sec


or other
provided
nt greater


rnment
hv the 1


lly


... ....-,





THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 7


A /4


FACES


WOULD


D BE


NOSE


RED

!
%p


if we didn't wish you


MERRY


CHRISTMAS


. . . because you, Clubhouse customers, have made our Christmas merry.


All year long, you've been playing Jingle Bells on the cash
and drinking and buying things at all the Clubhouses.


registers,


eating


Because you bought so many things, 1951 now looks good to us.


In fact, it


seems


almost


as bright


as the nose of you-know-what reindeer who guided Santa


Claus's


sleigh.


As for 1952,


year will be


as good


're asking Santa Claus for
as the last one.


a new crystal ball and hoping next


Of course, what


we liked best in 1951 and 1950 and all the Clubhouse


before that


was the customers.


In this department,


go right on believing


"the more the merrier."


And were


polishing off our old tricks and working out


bring the customers to the Clubhouses next


year-


in droves,


a few new
we hope.


ones to


* In the Restaurants there'll be more of the


same-go


od food and good


service


we hope, prices that are good for family budgets.


We had to spend more for food this year but we didn't charge the customers


more.


was a neat trick, if


we do


say so, that worked only because there


were more customers-12 percent more than in 1950.


Then too, we cut the corners and saved


a penny any place


we could.


We hope


we can go on like this.


* The Sales Sections sold more this


year too-because they had more to


They added phonograph records and sheet music (like "Rudolph the Red


Nosed Reindeer,


of course) and started selling cough and cold remedies, aspirins


vitamins and other such pepper-uppers.


Even more things will be sold in the Clubhouses next


* The Theaters had most of the choice features and short subjects produced


during the


year and lots of people came to enjoy them.


RUDOLPH'


/r


OUR


AS





December 7, 1951


THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


Building


Division


Conclude


Supervisors


Of


Conferences


Two New Forms To Be Used
For Leave Applications

Two new forms are ready for use by
Company-Government employees in


applying
obtained
will be
applying
tion. It
cate on
carbons.
on the
ployee's
his final
of other


for leave.


may


From unit heads. One form
used when employees are
for leave involving transporta-
will be made up in quintupli-
i bound form with throw-away
Travel authority will be issued
form itself, so that the em-
application for leave becomes
travel authority without use
forms.


The other form will be used for local
leave of more than 80 hours.


Ten


SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES of the Building Division are concluding this month a series of
weekly conferences on supervisory problems. The group is one of four-one is from the Motor Trans-
portation Div'sion, another is from the Storehouses and the fourth is a mixed group from the Atlantic
Side-who are holding such conferences. Left to right are: Harold W. Meyer, Painter Foreman;
Herachel Gandy, Administrative Assistant; Fred S. Baumbach, Supervisor of Painting; Fred J.
Bauman, Supervisor of Sheetmetal Work; Edward F. Culverhouse, Assistant Training Officer,
Personnel Bureau; Charles A. Dubbs, Training Officer, Personnel Bureau; Kenneth C. Hellums, Chief,
Southern District; Leon M. Warren. Assistant Chief, Southern District; William J. Bain, Foreman,


Sheetmetal
Plumbing.


Work;


Jack C. Sisson, Supervisor


A series of weekly conferences on
supervision is coming to an end early this
month for a dozen employees of the
Building Division.
The conferees, all men in supervisory
positions, have met each Thursday after-
noon for one and one-half to two hours in
the Conference Room at the Central
Labor Office on Roosevelt Avenue.
The first conference was held August 16.
For most of the conferences the leader has
been Charles A. Dubbs of the Personnel
Bureau. Edward F. Culverhouse, also of
the Personnel Bureau, has served as
leader on several occasions.
Three other conference groups, all
concerned with supervisory problems, are
also now in operation with meetings


weekly.
Storehoi
tember;
portatio
early in
group,
the But
T f I.


A group from
uses began their


I

I
1


a group from i
n Division met
November and
made up of r
lding Division,
m i i


the Division of
meetings in Sep-
he Motor Trans-
for the first time
an Atlantic Side
representatives of
Storehouses, and


of Construction; and Oliver C. Culp, Supervisor of


Forty

In


Years Ago

November


Christmas was not far off 40 years ago,
either. A committee had begun to collect
a "treat" for the penitentiary inmates:
sweets, fruits, nuts, and chewing tobacco.
Elsewhere plans were under way for holi-
day programs in the churches and cub-
houses, and collections of toys and books
for the children of Colon.
Excavation of the Cut was completed at
Bas Obispo and for a mile at that end,
except for a small amount of cleaning up.
Work was proceeding so well that the
CANAL RECORD was able to predict that
"digging would be completed by July 1,
1913, except for the small amount of work
to be done after the shovels are removed."
The past rate of excavation could not long be
continued because the time was fast ap-
proaching when the number (42) of shovels
at work would have to be reduced because of
larkl of roam in whieb in nnrk"


ears Ago

November


Christmas was drawing near this time
10 years ago. (So was Pearl Harbor, al-
though no one' here knew it). The Com-
missary Division had ordered 5,376
Christmas trees, their largest tree order to
date. But a Governor's circular banned
outside decorative lighting to avoid
placing an extra burden on the already
overtaxed generators of the Panama
Canal power system.

Forty sets of specifications and contract
drawings for the new Gatun Locks were air
mailed to Washington for distribution to
prospective bidders. The plans called for
a five-story control house, streamlined
lighting on the lock walls, sunken emergency
gates and an emergency, underground
Diesel electric plant.
Also on the Third Locks front, bids were
opened for 60-cycle generating units, seven
of which were to be used as auxiliary plants
to operate the new locks.

Rear Admiral Frank H. Sadler, 15th
Naval District Commandant, told a news
conference that the Canal was ready to
meet any offensive act which Japan or any
other nation could launch. He considered
magnetic mines the greatest local danger.
Panama held a series of blackouts, in
Panama City, the Chorrera-Arraijan area
and in Colon, New Cristobal, and the
DeLesseps section.

Names in the news included those of
Ira L. Wright, who arrived to take over the
post of assistant Comptroller; Raymond A.


Series






THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 7, 1951


From October 15 through November 15


The follohinr liVt contains the names of
:-e employ Ios who were transferred from
e divi1on to aotilher or from one type of
)rk to another. It does not contain within
Itle pronioltions or regrad(ings.


CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU


Robert C. Le Cat
Navigation )iv ision,
PIostal, Cusioms and I
Mrs. Martha L. B
Shapiro, from Subsii
nmentary Schools TI
Schools.
Mary A. Iluddlest<
School Teacher to Pri
mentary School, l)ivi i
Gladys L. Elkins, f
tary School 'rincita
Instruction. White S
Schoo!s.
Albert B. Cooper,
I'olice Sergeant, Police
Mrs. Marguerite F
lute Teacher to Ilhigh S
sion of Schools.


es, front Signalman,
to Customs Guard,
runigration Division.
ell, Mrs. Mary V.
Lute Teacher to Ele-
acher, Division of


on
nc
in
I'O
1
k'h


, from Elementary
ipal, Gamboa Ele-
Sof Schools.
min Balboa Elemen-
to Supervisor of
ools. Division of


from PIoliceman
division .
Little, from Sub
school Teacher, D


COMMUNITY SERVICE BUREAU


Mrs. Eva M. Reed, from
Service Supervisor to Supervisor
Clubhouse Division.


Restaurant
of Service,


ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION
BUREAU


Frank Sulc,


from Wiremar
trial D)ivision
Gilbert A.
hoff, from I.e
man, Electrica
Hayden B
Foreman and
Electrical Div
Robert C.
tion Equipm
Operator, lMut
Wayne M.
house Operat


William


H. Billerman,


t1.


r-' I


Sto Leading \ireman, Elec-
**
Reynolds, Vernon L. Dahl-
adingman WVireman to Fore-
Il Division.
. Jones, from Distribution


Cal)lesplicer


vision.
Herrington, from
ent Operator to
nicipal Division.
Hatting, from Sen
or to Powerhouse


DIispatcher, Electrical Division.
Judith A. Smith, from Mail
Clerk, Terminals Division, to A
Clerk, Electrical I)ivision.
Murray Klipper, from Lock
(Wireman), Locks Division, to
Electrical Division.
Ward T. Lyttle, from Ielep


staller-Maintainer to Teleph
Electrical DI)ivision.


one M


HEALTH BUREAU
Dr. Melvin E. Lea, from Medical
Colon Hospital, to Medical Officer,
Hospital.
INDUSTRIAL BUREAU
Eugene V. Callahan, from Lock
tor (Boilermaker), A\tlantic Loc
Boilermaker, Industrial Bureau.


to Foreman,


Alan
cal Divi
Atlantice


W. Brede, from Wireman, Electri-
sion, to Lock Operator (Wireman)
Locks.


Irvin E. Krapfl,
tender Foreman to


Forenlan and
I)ivision.


Steal


from Gauge
Gauger and
n Engineer,


r and Crib-
Cribtender
Terminals


SUPPLY AND SERVICE BUREAU


Harold L. LeClaire, from Service Me-
chanic to Plant Engineer and Mechanic,
Commissary Division.
Arthur S. Miller, from Meatcutter to
Meatcutter-in-Charge,Commissary Division.
Charles E. Meyer, from Commissary
Assistant to Cash Accounting Clerk, Com-
missary Division.
ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH
Albert H. Evans, from Administrative
tive Branch.
A. Edwin Wilson, from Guard, Gorgas
Hospital, to Mail Clerk, Administrative
Branch.


ANNIVERSARIES

Employees who observed important anni-
versaries during the month of Nov ember are
listed alphabetically below. The number of
years includes all Government service, with
the Canal or other agencies. Those with
continuous Canal or Railroad service are
indicated with (*).
40 Years
J. Wendell Greene, Treasurer, Panama


Canal


(onstruc-
General

or Power-
Operator-

and File
accounting

Operator
Wireman,

hone In-
aintainer,


Company.


35 Years
Dr. John D. Odom, Q
Immigration Officer, Balboa.
30 Years
Antonio Ortiz. Maint


Motor Tran


sportation


DECEMBER


Officer,
Gorgas


Opera-
ks. to


quarantinee and


enance


25 Years


PROMOTIONS AND TRANSFERS


Thomas II. Collins,


Local


Agency,


a t.
Chief Marine
Division.
Sergeant, Fire

t, Engineering


Tractor-Bulldozer


Operator, Municipal Division.
Harlan Feuille, Hydrographic Engineer,
Dredging Division.
Merwin A. French, Sr., Marine Dis-
patcher, Navigation Division.
Lawrence W. Jenkins, Storekeeper,
Locks Division.
Mattison G. Macaulay, Cashier, Com-
missary Division.
15 Years


Auvie H. Byrd, Administrative
ant, Schools Division.
*Raymond Crucet, Lock Op
Locks Division.
*Arthur F. Crusey, Junior (
House Operator, Locks Division.
James E. Harrell, Postal Clerk,
Customs, and Immigration Division.


*Donald R. Jones,
Immigration, and Cust
*James H. Jones,
Locks Division.
*Gerald J. Kelley,
man, Instrument Repa
Charles H. Kisslii
Locks Division.
Walter F. Kunkel
Transportation Divisio


Assist-

erator,

Control

Postal.


Postmaster, Postal,
oms Division.
Carpenter Foreman,


T
ir
ng


n.


.r Repair-

Operator,

ir. Motor


Walter H. Morton, Customs Inspector,
Postal, Customs, and Immitigraon Division.
Allan B. Parker, Chief Towboat Engi-
neer, Dredging Division.
*Ernest K. Reimer, Chief Towboat
Engineer, Dredging Division.
*George A. Smith, Tunnel Operator,
Locks Division.
*Homer A. Sneckenberger, Tunnel
Operator, Locks Division.
Robert L. Thompson, Clerk, Health
Bureau.
(Editor's Note: Mr. Crucet, Mr. Crusey,
Mr. Sneckenberger, Mr. Reimer, and
Mr. Smith all went to work on the same


date: November


17, 1936.)


V. F. W., Post No. 40, Balboa
C. Hall, 7:30 p. m.
20th-American Legion Auxiliary,
6, Gamboa Legion Hall, 7:30
21st-V. F. W., Post No. 3857, New
tobal, 7:30 p. m.
25th-Christmas Day
26th-American Legion Auxiliary,
2, Legion Home, Old Cristobal,
D. m.


Vicente Alfaro, Foreman,
Railroad and Terminals Bure
*Frederick C. Bitter,
Engineer, Aids to Navigation
Blabon D. Humphrey,
Division.
*Saul M. Ives, Architec
Division.
20 Years


RAILROAD AND TERMINALS BUREAU


ypewnrite
Shop.
, L.ock

Chauffeu


THIS MONTH'S CALENDAR


7th-American Legion, Post No. 6,
Gamboa Legion Hall, 7:30 p. m.
V. F. W., Post No. 3857, New Cris-
tobal, 7:30 p. m.
9th-Steamfitters, No. 652, Margarita
Clubhouse, 9:30 a. m.
Plumbers, No 606, Balboa Lodge
Hall, 9:30 a. m.


No.
p. m.
Cris-


I,


Division.





December 7,1951


THE PANAMA


CANAL REVIEW


POU6


I


Having the head of a service in a Canal
Zone Hospital an honorary captain min the
Colon Bomberos is a new wrinkle in
Isthmian medicine. But that's exactly
what's going on at Colon Hospital.
The Medico-Bombero is Dr. John M.
Wilkerson, Chief of the Hospital's Medi-
cal Service. He also serves as chief of the
X-Ray Department and the fast growing
Chest Service.
During his student days at Oklahoma
City University, Dr. Wilkerson was a
member of the city's fire department.
Friends here learned of this interest and
about two years ago he was given an
honorary appointment min the Colon fire-
fighting force.
He hurries to point out that he has no
real Bombero duties and he does not fight
fires any more. But, well, once a fire
fighter . . .
A native of Spencer, Okla., Dr. Wilker-
son is a graduate of the Medical School at
the University of Oklahoma with the class
of 1932. He later took post-graduate
work at Mercy Hospital in Denver and
at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnum.
After completing his internship, he was
first in private practice and then, for
almost six years, was a camp surgeon
with the CCC service in Oklahoma.
Here Since 1943
In 1941 he entered the Army's Medical
Corps and two years later was assigned to
the Canal Zone and detailed to Colon
Hospital. Except for a six-month absence
because of illness, his service here has
been continuous. He became a civilian in
1950 and continued his work at Colon
Hospital.
Working with him in the Medical
Service there are Dr. William M. Jackson
and Dr. Frank E. Riefkohl. Dr. Jackson
heads the section for the treatment of
white patients and Dr. Riefkohl is Chief
of the Pediatrics Section and also cares for
the hospital's colored patients.
The Chest Clinic is a recent develop-
ment at Colon Hospital and has become,
during its short period of existence, one
of the busiest spots in the hospital.
In this clinic, patients who have been
discharged after hospitalization are fol-
lowed as out-patients and are given such
treatments as will assist in their eventual
complete recovery.


Ext


L


TH


"STAIRCASE OVER MOUNTAINS"
((Continued from page 9) huge cast
steel "bullwheels," over 19 feet across,
weighing some 35,000 pounds and mounted
horizontally on a large center pin. These
are the wheels which, through a connect-
ing arm, open and close the lock gates. In
the next bay, dwarfed by the size of its
bullwheel, is the 25-horsepower motor
which operates it.
Hot Spots
At intervals along the passageways are
the transformer rooms, quite literally hot
spots, where current coming into the locks
from the outside power system is stepped
down from 6,900 volts to 230 volts for
distribution to the machines.
There are the float wells to determine
the depth of the water in each lock
chamber for the gauges in the control
house. In the underground world at
Gatun there are 63 starting panels for the
rising stem gate valves, 40 starting panels
for the machines which move the gates,
60 starting panels for use with the motors


on the
not all


cylindrical valves-and these are
of the machinery and equipment.


Since the Panama Canal began opera-
tions in 1914 very few changes have been
made to the locks. Some new electrical


Panama Canal Company Board
Meeting Postponed One Month
The meeting of the Panama Canal
Company Board of Directors, which was
to have been held in Washington next
Monday has been postponed, with a ten-
tative date of January 7 set.
The postponement was caused by the
inability of the Board Chairman, Karl
Bendetsen, to attend the December 10
hearing. He will be attending budget
hearings during the entire first two weeks
in December.

MONTHLY CONFERENCE
(Continued from page 3) Henry L. Donovan.
The purpose of the Washington talks, the
Governor explained, was two-fold: to de-
termine if the Panama Canal Company
will continue in the business of providing
quarters for non-employees, and whether
rents for non-employees would be in-
creased. Rental rates for employees were
not on the agenda.
The meeting was opened with a break-
down on price of coffee in the Commissar-
ies. F. R. Johnson, Acting Supply and
Service Director, told the conferees that
raw material for a pound of "Tivoli"


brand coffee c
the Isthmus.
age of about
cents is added
aging, storage
bringing the (
cents. To thi:


osts 54.3 cents delivered on
During roasting, a shrink-
14 percent develops, so 7.8
to cover this. Labor, pack-
,etc., add another 8.2 cents,
cost before retailing to 70.3
s price, 20 percent is added


for cost of purchase, wareh
portation, retailing, account
of the commissary share for
etc., which brings the coffe


housing, trans-
ing, allocation
Government,
e costs to the


85-cent retail price. The Commissaries
make no profit on coffee, Mr. Johnson
said.
Also discussed were the question of
Christmas holidays and the possibility of
employees working the Saturdays before
Christmas and New Year instead of on
the days preceding the two holidays; the
medical tariff; the Pedro Miguel dispen-
sary, and various highway problems.
Attending the conference were: the
Governor and the Lieutenant Governor,
E. A. Doolan, Personnel Director; Forrest
G. Dunsmoor, Executive Assistant to the
Governor; E. W. Hatchett, Walter Wag-
ner, J. J. Tobin, W. R. Howe, W. M.
Price and Carl W. Hoffmeyer for the





THE PANAMA CANAL REVIEW


December 7, 1951


U.


Groups


Learn


Diablo


Canal


Camera


CHRISTMAS CARD making was one of the projects studied recently by members of the Diablo
Heights Camera Club. Leader of this class is Harry Boland, standing. Seated, left to right, are:
W. C. Kongable, the Club's President, Hilma Lee Morgan, Hope Benowitz, Mrs. V. F. Shaw, Ann
Strickler, M. W. Foscue, the Club's Second Vice President, and Francis F. Hargy.


Hundreds of people in the United States
are learning what the Panama Canal looks
like and how the people of the Canal Zone
live-through the efforts of the Diablo
Camera Club.
Now in the United States, for the
second time, is a collection of 85 color
slides prepared and edited by members of
the Club. The slide set, entitled "Cross-
roads Portrait," is accompanied by a
script to be read as the numbered slides
are shown.
The color slide group is now making up
a second slide set, called "Flowers of
Panama." This set of 125 flower slides,
accompanied by a script commentary,
will be presented at the December 20
meeting. Its second showing will be at
the January meeting of the Cardenas
River Garden Club.
The Diablo Camera Club, which at
present has a membership of 75 men and
women, has its own building at 5030 Hains
Street in Diablo Heights.


course in color-slide work is now in prog-
ress. Several evenings were devoted re-
cently to making Christmas cards and
title slides. Field trips to the new El
Panama Hotel and to the Atlantic Side to
photograph the heliconia plants were
pleasant outings as well as being educa-
tional from a photographic angle. .
The Club is a member of the Photo-
graphic Society of America which is the
largest group of photographers in the
world. The Diablo club participates in
the Society's color slide exhibits, and was
promoted to the Class A division for the
1951-52 series.
Members Win Awards
Position standing among the competing
clubs is attained by the number of points
awarded the six slides submitted by each
club in each contest. The Diablo Club
was among the first 10 percent of 65
competing clubs. Three members of the


Zone

Club


Slides


Club, Eleanor Wine, L. C. Kridle, and
Jesse Gregg, won honorable mentions on
their slides submitted in the series. The
PSA Journal, a monthly magazine which
reports Society's activities and services
available to members as well as technical
articles, is stock equipment at the Diablo
Camera Clubhouse.
The Club bulletin, Light 'N' Lens, pub-
lished monthly, keeps members up to date
on club activities. In November it was
entered for the first time in the Photo-
graphic Society of America's bulletin
contest for clubs and received a Green
Ribbon award.
The club offers variety in its monthly
programs, even sponsoring photographic
exhibits from other parts of the world. In
January 1951, seventy-two black and
white prints of the Club Fotografico de
Mexico were shown, and in May a color
slide set on "Postwar Japan" made up by
the Circle of Confusion Camera Club of
Tokyo, was presented.
The club has entered a 1952 color slide
circuit which is sponsored by the Photo-
graphic Society of America. The Diablo
Club has lent five color slides for this
circuit, representative of the best work of
the club membership, and will view its
own slides along with slides of nine States'
camera clubs. The set is viewed by each
of the ten participating clubs with each
club furnishing comments on the slides in
the set, and also selecting the first,
second, and third best slides. This is a
new activity-of the local club, and prom-
ises to be an excellent chance to compare
and view the work being done in color
photography by clubs in the United
States.
Members are encouraged to participate
in the club programs and activities. The
color slide meeting in November brought
forth participation by twenty members,
in competition, judging; and projection of
slides taken on photographic field trips.
Guests are always welcome at the
meetings and are invited to enjoy the
programs and, perhaps, a doughnut and a
cup of coffee on one of the bright red
divans in the Club's "Cozy Corner."


About


Through


a
a -
aI -

fa
ia
M^ -
aj==